Lallana has been yellow carded for simulation, but on that occasion I think the Official made a mistake as video evidence after the game clearly showed that he was tripped, I am not sure what he was thinking on Tuesday unless it was some sort of point making about the WHU dive? Sharp only went down from the force of the push, look at the reaction of Taylor after he had done it, he realised straight away he had gone OTT, and was as annoyed with himself as his team mates were with him, it was fortunate that the rest of our players kept their cool and didn't go bundling in, Brighton style, or it could have got very nasty, the red brought everyone to their senses and although game was played hard it was mostly fair, some players did get yellows afterwards and all were justified, Lee Probert had been given a real tinderbox, some Referees would have lost it completely, he didn't. You have to admit the WHU fans are very loyal to their side (I am being a bit restrained there), if anything too narrow minded, no doubt they did intimidate the officials throughout the game, but that is the way they are.
The things Abrahams wrote on twitter were completely irresponsible and have perpetuated the lie that Sharp was merely shoved in the chest. How he and West Ham can maintain that he was pushed in the chest is beyond me. Can't find it at the moment, but there was a photo doing the rounds clearly showing Taylor's hand squeezing Sharp's throat. Abrahams' lies have resulted in some horrible and undeserved abuse being thrown in Sharp's direction since the game, as a lot of West Ham fans seem too thick to recognise that they've got this one wrong. On a related sidenote, does it not seem a bit mysterious that the ChrisDRFCBoyd account only ever sent four tweets - all of them abuse to Sharp about his son - and that all of these were sent after the game? The account had no followers either, which perhaps suggests that it was set up after the game? Just a theory
If you mean he was stupid going over to have a go at Noble, then fair enough even if it did look like a dive. But if you think he's exaggerated Taylor pushing him over, then I think you are wrong. Having seen the replay I'm incensed that Sharp is being accused of cheating and that WH have grounds for appeal.It seems that West Ham are the media darlings and we are going to have to put up with this biased crap.
I agree Billy should have walked away, but his annoyance at Nobles dive is evident, remember he hasn't been here long enough to be totally under NA's wing, if you look at the behaviour of the other players, any one of them could have got seriously involved if they had lost their discipline, but the worst thing was KD cuddling the Ref after he had made the decision!
How can you appeal that??? The evidence is there for all to see, definite red card. Stupid appeal and will just get him banned for longer.
Interesting to watch back having read the comments about the various player reactions after it happens etc. Also watch the linesman make his "back pocket" gesture! Hadn't noticed this before.
I think Lallana dived because Noble dived for the West Ham penalty. The only difference was that Noble conned the ref and Lallana didn't. However, Lallana shouldn't have done it and got rightly booked. However Sharp has done nothing wrong. Apparently West Ham are considering appealing the red card. If they do, Taylor should get a 4 match ban rather than 3.
Appeals will only be upheld if the referee made a "clear and obvious error", meaning that it has to have merited no card at all. Going in saying that it was only worth a yellow is a dead certain way of getting your appeal denied.
Two hammers fans I work with said exactly that , never mind if Sharp over reacted ( photos show taylor shoved him by the throat ) it was an instant red card and they are fuming he let himself get involved . They also said before kick off that an early red card was their main concern , is Fat Sam Poyet MK2 ? Just for the record . Although they are more than happy to be top , they hate Fat Sam and his style of football and hope IF they go up , the first thing the owners do is get rid of him .
